ARC Chosen as Home for New Research Center

Technology ObserverAugust 17, 1998

The Applied Research Center (ARC) on the campus of Jefferson Lab in Newport Newshas been picked as the site of The Center for Plasma and Photon Processing.

The announcement was made last week by Secretary of Commerce and Trade Barry E. DuVal and representatives from the Centerfor Innovative Technology (CIT). The center will be home to research used to advance the use of intelligent processes to control energy to create materials, structures and devices.

As part of the Jefferson Center for Research and Technology, CIT's new Technology Innovation Center will share in the impact of 4,200jobs and $160 million.

"I am excited about the selection of the Applied Research Center as a new Innovation Center. The ARC is a centralized gateway joining state-of-the-art technology, scholars and researchers from Virginia's universities and the Commonwealth's growing businesses," DuVal said.

The use of light and intelligent processes are critical for high-value-added manufacturing of computer and communication equipment, physical and chemical sensors, and biomedical instruments and are playing increasingly important roles for the aerospace, automotive, and marine & semiconductor manufacturing industries.

The center will serve as a means for small, medium and large businesses to access the expensive equipment at the ARC and the Thomas Jefferson NationalAccelerator Facility (Jefferson Lab), use the expertise of the researchers and scientists, assist in the development of new applications of technologies and share in the spin-off potential of new technologies developed at the labs.

The center is a partnership among the ARC, Christopher Newport University, Jefferson Lab, Norfolk State University, Old Dominion University, and theColleges of William & Mary and Virginia Tech.

"Business and regional groups called for the creation of the center in Virginia's Blueprint for Technology-based Economic Growth," said Dr. Robert G. Templin, Jr., CIT's President.